Roethlisberger out vs. Ravens with shoulder injury

Nov. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will sit out this week's game against the Baltimore Ravens because of a sprained throwing shoulder, the team said on its website.

Byron Leftwich will make his first National Football League start since 2009 as he replaces Roethlisberger for the Nov. 18 game at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field. The Steelers (6-3) play the American Football Conference North Division-leading Ravens (7-2) twice in the next three weeks, starting with the Sunday night game.

Roethlisberger suffered a sternoclavicular strain, an injury to the joint between the collar bone and the breastbone, when he was sacked during the third quarter of last week's 16-13 overtime win against the Kansas City Chiefs. It's not yet known how much time he'll miss for the Steelers, who have won four straight games after a 2-3 start.

"Byron gets enough reps in practice and incorporates the plays that Ben likes to do," Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey said on the NFL Network. "We're going to keep trying to roll with the things that are going hot for us right now."

Roethlisberger, who has led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles in his nine NFL seasons, has passed for 2,287 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. Leftwich replaced him in the second half against the Chiefs and completed 7-of-14 passes for 73 yards.

The Steelers are now listed as 3-point underdogs at home against the Ravens, according to the Las Vegas Hotel's Super Book. They had been listed as 3 1/2-point favorites for the game before Roethlisberger's injury.